FN Dish

All the Best (and Clever) Ways to Eat Waffles for Breakfast

Waffles are a breakfast staple that always makes us smile. And while we’ll never bore of the ol’ reliable recipe smeared with butter and dripping with syrup, waffles are also a great canvas for thinking outside the box. Here’s our go-to classic recipe and six twists on the original you can try this season.

Master the classic waffle recipe, and you can make a special breakfast for your family any day of the week. But what’s even cooler is that you can make these in advance, freeze ‘em and then heat them up in the toaster oven whenever the waffle mood strikes. They’re so much better than what you’ll find in the frozen aisle at the grocery store.

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Call it a meat-lovers waffle. Not only is this recipe topped with fried chicken and crispy bacon, but there’s also bacon mixed into the waffle batter. Save it for a lazy Sunday morning when you don’t have to leave the couch too quickly.

If you’re type who always waffles (har har) between French toast and waffles on the diner menu, you can get the best of both worlds at home. Pop a chunky slice of brioche in the waffle iron, and you’ll wind up with crispy divots (perfect for flooding with syrup) and maintain the fluffy, chewy texture typical of French toast.

Banana bread is another morning favorite that can get a waffle update. Pour banana-bread batter straight into the waffle iron for a treat that’s both new and familiar — and cooks in way less time than typical banana bread.

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Waffles to-go sounds like a tricky ask (what, should I pour syrup into a plastic baggie?), until you realize that two waffles can sandwich all the gooey stuff (here, cream cheese and jam) inside for a handheld breakfast.

Those who prefer a savory breakfast need not miss out on all this waffling fun. Pressed in a waffle iron, Ree Drummond’s ham-and-cheese-stuffed hash browns get even more crispy bits (the best parts!) than when they’re made in a pan.

OK, you got us. This cake might want you to think it’s for breakfast, but it’s, well, a cake. It’s dessert. But we also bet you can serve this tower of raspberry cream and chocolate at your next girlfriends’ brunch and no one will complain.